Final Agenda & Notes (links) - Partners Meeting - 2018-04-19
Final Agenda-April-19th_10:00-4:00 – With Hotlinks to NOTES and Reference Materials
Purpose: of meeting was to advance earlier efforts to define, confirm, and affirm commitment to
1) continue the partnership (i.e., lending their time, talents, and resources to advancing large-scale collaborative conservation partnership in our region);
2) advance a process to help identify ways to forge the new re-imagined partnership; and
3) communicate to State and Federal association decision-making, the needs and opportunities this partnership offers to achieve sustained regional conservation that builds upon the strength of earlier investments and current commitments by the partner.
Section-1 - 10:00 – 10:20 Opening Session (no notes – but list of attendees / invitees)
Section-2 - 10:20-10:40 - State-led Initiatives – Recap of Recent Discussions (Notes)
SUMMARY of KEY POINTS
By TOPIC: AFWA actions related to landscape conservation’s future [Meeting of Exec Comm. of AFWA and Directors of FWS and development of Work Group between AFWA and FWS within Wildlife Policy]
- AFWA Direction: Consensus that we still need to do landscape conservation;
- FWS Direction: is now asking AFWA how we can continue with landscape conservation: FWS wants to emphasize at-risk species; FWS has significant staff in ROs
- Congress Directions: FY18 funds: ~same level of support approved by Congress - FWS wants feedback from states via AFWA on use of those funds for priorities regionally. States want to maintain capabilities of those (FWS-Science Application) staff;
- Regional Associations Direction (Governance): may take a bigger role in the future
- On-going projects done by LCCs: that need to be maintained – brought up in AFWA discussion
- for (Appalachian region), NatureScape can be downscaled to TRB (as the critical ‘next step’ in both the science and the science application to on-the-ground conservation).
By TOPIC: SECAS (Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy Initiative) update
- (SE Directors) recommend SECAS continue, along with those projects under it
- [Near-term] Without LCCs to provide the governance and technical skills, we have to figure out where those will come from…. currently having to do with conversations between states and FWS
- [Longer term] Need to have those conversations through fall and come up with a strategy for landscape conservation that includes more stakeholders …currently having to do with conversations between states and FW (but need to) broaden conversation out to NGOs.
TOPIC: NE Directors Meeting update
- [Paul Johansen WV DNR] delayed at airport, not able to provide update
Perspective of the State
[PA – Fish & Boat Comm.]
- SWAP is the connection to larger landscape conservation efforts for state agencies - SWAPs need to be knitted across state boundaries to understand better how to connect state’s conservation efforts to a larger landscape
[TN]
- within TN would love to align the LCC data products more closely w SWAP
- address disconnect between East and West TN formerly divided by LCC lines
- leadership role on SECAS
[NC]
- interested in making sure that all of the partner entities have easy and clear communication and knowledge of AppLCC-funded and other landscape design tools to promote landscape scale conservation
- cultural component is interesting and can be shared with others who will benefit outside our partnership; synergistic landscape conservation
[MD DNR rep not able to attend; GA DNR rep not participating]
Section-3 - 10:40-11:00 - Federal Guidance – supporting States and Admin. Priorities
SUMMARY of KEY POINTS
[EPA]
- [EPA SE]: are reengaging within SENRLG to ask what Agency’s priorities are.
- [EPA NE]: (representative not able to join the meeting –NE primary focus Ches. Bay Program)
[DoA - FS]
- [Secretary of Ag] understand the importance of working with states as former Governor and his Deputy also strong connection to states and sees importance of working cross-boundaries
- [USFS] leadership positions of USFS they understand the issues of landscape conservation and LCC work - USFS continuing to participate as that is what is in best interest of the resources and the American people.
[DoA - NRCS] – see under “Nature and Society” Session (Working Lands for Wildlife)
[DoI - NPS]
- [NPS Admin-level] when we talk about strengthening link to local and state partners, support for jobs, engaging youth (under 30) or veterans (35) that has traction
- [NPS Regional / Unit-level] Doesn’t see a lot of difference in what we are doing on the ground because those things are good for the resources and the American people, so that is out litmus test.
- [DOI] priorities from DOI put us in good position to support landscape conservation continuance such as large number of at-risk species in FWS R4 and R5; USGS has to explain who is requesting work, our role is to support DOI agencies but that can include states’ priorities.
[DoI - USGS]
- [USGS Ecosystem Mission Area (Leetown Center - Aquatic Focus)] Remains support for landscape conservation - support science (e.g.) also regarding ecological flows we are working on tools to better forecast. Anything that can be tied back to fish and wildlife heritage has support.
- [Chesapeake Bay Funded Support] Chesapeake…Science Committee hosting workshop; deep dive on data in CB watershed from NHAP assessment - building off of NHAP (interests).
[DoI - OSMRE]
- [OSMRE Region-1] hoping to be able to support basic science through applied science grants and agreements (hope to have FY19 $$ to continue).
- [State Support] How to use tools of LCCs to help states make decisions; that’s a big role we have is technical support to work with state partners. Interested in assessing how tools developed can help our state partners.
[DoI - BIA] see under “Nature and Society” Session (Cultural)
Section-4 - 11:00-11:20- Nature and Society - Working Lands, Conservation Partnerships, Cultural
SUMMARY of KEY POINTS
An Industry (Energy) Perspective:
TVA Stewardship Program]
- [NR Fellowship & TRB] . Funding a position dedicated to the partnership was critical for getting the network off the ground. The Fellowship was a big success - jointly funding a position was extremely effective and we would not have been nearly as successful without it.
Conservation Science & Training Perspective
[Smithsonian] Changing Landscape Initiative
- Program Scientist within work area to integrate science across groups within Smithsonian (pan-Smithsonian initiative called “conservation commons” to bring together science centers for leveraging info for conservation).
- Interested in this partnership in the intent of being good stewards in this region.
[Smithsonian] VA Working Landscapes
- 15 county area around Shenandoah Park, draining to Chesapeake Bay;
- Stakeholder input into landscape future condition model for condition and ecosystem services; looking at what is the underpinning of the ecosystem services
A Donor Perspective
[National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)] Central Appalachians Program
- New program for forests and freshwater habitats; species targets are part of this; working with JVs and FHPs (EBT)
- RK Mellon and NRCS funding -- Science-based investment strategy under development to guide investments over next 5-10 years.
Working with Private Land-owner Perspective
[NRCS Working Lands for Wildlife] Landscape Conservation Initiatives Team
- Have excellent support for (Landscape) work under new administration; have bipartisan support for these programs. Politicians like the “regulatory predictability”.
- Program thinking about species, ecosystems, and economics of the region. (Farm Bill language) species targets are based on Endangered Species link.
Section-5 – 11:30 – 1:00 - Review, revise our “Resolution” (Dec. Workgroup)
SUMMARY of ACTION ITEMS
Action Item (#1): revise vision statement to include the following: 1) diverse partnership; 2) biodiversity of Appalachian region as an asset; 3) add language about tools, and translating them to local communities; 4) co-generation of knowledge, the process of science; 5) connection to communities who will benefit from work; 6) partnership of partnerships, extend reach of work beyond jurisdiction.
See the working doc as posted the web: http://applcc.org/partner-developments/partner-resources/work-group-materials/april-19th-meeting-signup-sheet-2013-notetakers-and-session-facilitators
Section-6 - 1:00 – 2:00 RESEARCH REPORT-OUT WEBINAR: Drs. Maddie Brown (PSU)
Executive Summary of Research Results
“Partner Dashboard” to present those results
URL to Video Recording of April 19th “Research Report-Out” by Dr. Brown
Section-7- Brainstorming 2:00 – 4:00
SUMMARY of ACTION ITEMS
- What guidance can we offer to the National and Regional Conservation Efforts?
- What priority request for science delivery (application/staff-fellowship) and Project-level support across the region if FY18 Allocations available?
Action Items:
1) compile list of existing tools, information and then prioritize which ones will be important moving forward. Make a plan to apply tools in conservation contexts and train conservation practitioners.
2) seek funding for program manager position.
- How can our science partners keep the vision & forward movement on this important conservation agenda: i.e., contribute to the larger and longer-term vision of advancing the art/science/fellowship of system-conservation?
Action Items:
3) write a letter to USFWS conveying the partnership’s need to retain and reestablish (former Science Application) staffing capacity;
4) write a second letter asking for continued support for partnership, initially just to “keep the lights on” but ultimately to continue to develop projects and advance science. These letter will be best advanced by State Agency representatives.
